JK Rowling pens letter to a shooting victim

JK Rowling pens letter to a shooting victim

The author of the 'Harry Potter' series has penned a personal note to a teenager who suffered a tragic shooting incident that killed her entire family.

Cassidy Stay was shot in the head by her aunt's ex-husband, Roland Lee Haskell.

Roland arrived at their Texan home and demanded to see his former wife, when the family refused to tell him where their relative was, Roland shot them.

The brave 15-year-old student managed to survive the brutal attack by playing dead. Sadly, Cassidy's mother, father and her four siblings did not survive the shooting.

At a memorial service for her loved ones, Cassidy quoted a line from JK Rowling's novel, 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'. She said: ''[Albus] Dumbledore says, 'Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light'.

''I know that my mum, dad, Bryan, Emily, Becca and Zach are in a much better place and that I'll be able to see them again one day. Stay strong.''

Soon after, a Facebook campaign was set up to organise a meeting between Cassidy and her literature idol.

According to The Times newspaper, the teen has since received a package from the writer, including a wand, a signed book and a letter ''hand written by Dumbledore''.

On the official Facebook page for Cassidy, one friend added: ''This afternoon, I talked to a friend of Cassidy's who confirmed that J.K. Rowling did, in fact, write her a personalised letter.''

Cassidy has been hailed as a hero for her swift actions during the massacre. After laying still until Roland left the property, the teenager called the police and warned them that he would most likely try and kill her grandparents if they didn't act quickly.

Roland Haskell has since been charged with capital murder in connection to the killings.